Medical dictionary

What is abdominal wall reconstruction surgery? The abdominal wall is the three layers of muscle that protect and hold the inner organs. Sometimes, the strength and thickness of these muscles can become weak and unstable, due to a number of reasons, including: Recurring hernias Open, non-healing wounds The aim of abdominal wall reconstruction surgery is to redistribute more evenly,

What is acellular dermal matrix?Acellular dermal matrix is a biotechnological engineered mesh (graft) that acts as soft tissue support in a myriad of surgical purposes, but mainly, immediate implant-based breast reconstruction. Its purpose is to provide a scaffold upon which the patient’s tissue cells can grow and sufficient vascularised tissue can support the new breast implant.The use of the mes

What is adult circumcision? Male circumcision is the surgical removal of the retractable fold of skin that covers the tip of the penis (foreskin). Although the procedure is normally performed in children for religious or cultural reasons, many adults undergo circumcision for medical purposes. Circumcision in women is referred to as female genital mutilation and has been outlawed by the UK gover

What is alopecia? Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. It is an umbrella term which includes many different types of hair loss, which each have their own causes and treatments. Types of alopecia include male and female pattern baldness, scarring alopecia, alopecia areata, anagen effluvium, telogen effluvium, alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis, alopecia barbae, androgenetic alopecia,

What is it? An amputation is the surgical removal of a part of the body, such as a whole limb or a portion of it, when other procedures have failed or are not possible due to your general state of health. In modern medicine, amputations are a last resort measure to be used when other treatments are not successful.  Why is it done? An amputation may be necessary under the follo

What is anti-ageing? Anti-ageing is a treatment to delay or stop the ageing process. There are many treatments that can help combat ageing, using both surgical and non-surgical procedures. Damage from too much sun exposure can take its toll and be responsible for most of the visible ageing of the skin. As well as photo-ageing, repeatedly spending time in the sun with lack of sunscreen can lead

  What is areola reduction surgery? Areola reduction is a cosmetic surgery designed to reshape and resize the areola — this is the pigmented skin surrounding the nipple. Some people feel that their areolae are disproportionately large, and look to a reduction procedure to address the issue. The aim of the surgery is to improve symmetry and decrease the size of the areola, makin

What is BBL surgery? A Brazilian butt lift (BBL) is a cosmetic surgery that uses liposuction to remove fat from different parts of the body (usually those surrounding the buttocks — hips, thighs and abdomen), to then be transferred through injections into the buttocks. This dual process works to both contour and tone the areas from which fat had been removed and enhance the appearance of

What is a birthmark?   A birthmark is a coloured mark that is visible on the skin, which can vary in size and colour. It often appears at birth or develops soon afterwards.   A birthmark will either fade or get bigger over time and be permanent. It may appear anywhere on the body or face and is completely harmless in most cases.   What are the different types of bi